LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 215

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11. CHURCH AND CULTURE
WHEREAS, Public opinion, popular culture, and
government actions and decisions cannot change what God
has established; and
WHEREAS, In the face of the virulent opposition to God’s
institution of marriage that is rife in America in these times,
faithfulness to the Bible’s teaching carries with it the
prospect of social and economic costs; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) reaffirm its commitment to the biblical definition
of marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one
woman and to Luther’s explanations of the Sixth
Commandment and First Article in both his Small and
Large Catechisms; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm 2016
Resolution 14-02A, “To Confess the Sanctity of Marriage,”
and that same-sex “marriage” cannot be recognized as
marriage according to God’s institution; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod teach and confess the Scriptural
doctrine and practice of marriage with renewed effort, in
the conviction that “what God has joined together, let not
man separate” (Matt 19:6); and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod continue to teach that this
understanding of marriage is incompatible with any sort of
sexual relations outside of marriage or the practice of
unscriptural divorce; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod encourage its members and the
members of its congregations to remain faithful to the
biblical teaching regarding marriage even when they
experience negative and hostile reactions to such faithful
confession; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks for all those who
have publicly spoken in support of God’s institution of
marriage; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod pledge its support by prayer and
all other appropriate means to those in this country and
elsewhere who are persecuted for their adherence to the
biblical teaching of marriage; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod make every effort to commend,
uphold, and encourage all Christians in our midst who are
seeking to live a chaste life even in the face of great sexual
temptations from the devil, the world, and their sinful flesh;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the church would be a welcome place for
all people and would continue to proclaim Christ the friend
of sinners, that all people would be called to repentance and
that the repentant would be absolved, and that all people
would be called to find their identity in Christ alone (1 Cor.
6:9–11).
Action: Adopted as amended (2)
After discussion, it was moved and seconded to amend the first
resolving clause, to add, after the words, “one woman,” “and to
Luther’s explanations of the Sixth Commandment in both his
Small and Large Catechisms.” It was moved to amend the
Resolutions

amendment to include, after “the Sixth Commandment,” the
words, “and First Article.” The committee having responded that
it was amenable to both modifications, and without objection
from the body, the resolution was so modified. It was moved and
seconded to close debate, which carried [Yes: 785; No: 112]. After
discussion by the assembly, the resolution as amended was
adopted [Yes: 898; No: 34].

To Encourage Synod to Develop Resources
to Aid Congregations and Schools regarding
Sexual Orientation
and Gender Identity Issues
RESOLUTION 11-03A
Overtures 11-11–12 (CW, 545–46)

WHEREAS, In the beginning God created man in his own
image, “male and female, he created them” (Gen. 1:27); and
WHEREAS, As the Small Catechism (SC) teaches, “I believe
that God has made me and all creatures. He has given me
my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members …” (SC II,
First Article); and
WHEREAS, After humanity’s fall into sin, Jesus again
affirmed God’s continuing work: that from the beginning
he created them “male and female” (Matt. 19:4); and
WHEREAS, All sexual corruption and confusion result
from humanity’s fall into sin and often lead to rebellious
and sinful acts against God’s will (James 1:14–15); and
WHEREAS, All sexual acts outside of faithful, biblical
marriage, which is between one man and one woman, are
sinful and contrary to God’s will (Rom. 13:13, 1 Cor. 6:9–11);
and
WHEREAS, Gender is now considered by many in our
culture as a social construct rather than a physical reality
created by God; and
WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of the United States has
ruled that marriages may be contracted between two
persons of the same sex; and
WHEREAS, Our society includes persons who are
uncertain whether they are “truly” male or female (this
does not include intersex individuals, see excursus in
Commission on Theology and Church Relations [CTCR],
Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria in Christian
Perspective), others who present themselves as a member of
the opposite sex in dress and physical appearance, and
others who participate in hormonal and/or surgical
procedures in an attempt to modify their anatomy from
male to female or from female to male; and
WHEREAS, The Christian church is not without fault and
has too often failed to minister compassionately to those
who experience sexual orientation and gender identity

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 215